With the help of a record-setting performance in the girls’ 200-meter sprint, the Southside Seahawks ran circles around the opposition Wednesday at the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference track and field meet held at Southside High School.

The boys finished first with 150 points, followed by Pamlico County (72), Northside (20) and Jones Senior (15). The Lady Seahawks (121) soared above the rest of the field, as Northside (55) and Pamlico County (49) fought for second place, and Jones Senior finished with 25 points.

Two athletes Southside coach Andrea Quinerly tabbed as ones to keep an eye on didn’t disappoint. Jacqueline Wood, after already setting a new school record in the 100-meter sprint earlier in the season, did the same in the 200-meter sprint on Wednesday. The junior’s time of 26.1 seconds was more than enough to break the previous record of 26.34, a time she spoke of wanting to best prior to the race.

The other Seahawk Quinerly highlighted pre-race was Jonquil Haywood. The junior played the hero running anchor in the 4×800-meter relay. He began the anchor leg even with his Pamlico County rival, but by the time Haywood crossed the finish line, the closest competitor was a good 20 meters behind him.

But those two aren’t the only talented athletes on Southside’s boys’ and girls’ track teams, as the Seahawks also have the reigning 1-A long jump champion in Eminey Redmond. Boys’ team captain, Jameson Bennett, who Wood credits as a great motivator for her and Quinerly refers to as a “great leader” and “the quickest, fastest on the team”, is a strong competitor in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints as well.

Quinerly considers this to be the strongest, deepest squad he’s had in his time at Southside, which should come in handy as the 1-A East Regional approaches.